Protests continue across Israel against judicial reform

Israeli protesters lift national flags as they rally in central Tel Aviv, on Feb 11, 2023, against controversial legal reforms being touted by the country's hard-right government. (PHOTO / AFP) JERUSALEM – Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated late Saturday against a controversial government-proposed reform of the country's judicial system, according to Israeli media. Footage […]

Türkiye on high alert against possible terror attacks on Western targets

In this file photo on Jan 11, 2023, Turkish anti riot police surround Istanbul's courthouse before an adress of doctors who protest before the trial of the head of Turkey's main medical union, Sebnem Korur Fincanci, on "terror" charges takes place. ANKARA – Türkiye has raised its security measures to highest level against possible Islamic […]

Tens of thousands of Israelis protest against judicial reforms

Israeli protesters attend a rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new hard-right government in the coastal city of Tel Aviv on Jan 21, 2023. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) JERUSALEM – Tens of thousands of Israelis rallied in several cities on Saturday evening to voice their dissatisfaction over the government's plan to make sweeping reforms in […]

Iran executes former official for ‘spying for Britain’

This undated handout file picture provided by Khabar Online news agency shows former Iranian deputy of defense minister Alireza Akbari, a British-Iranian national, during an interview in Tehran. (KHABAR ONLINE / AFP) TEHRAN – Former Iranian deputy defense minister Alireza Akbari was executed on charges of "espionage against the country," the Mizan news agency of […]

Türkiye summons Swedish envoy over protests against Erdogan

Turkish President and leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during his party's group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara on Feb 10, 2021. (ADEM ALTAN / AFP) ANKARA – Türkiye's Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned Swedish Ambassador Staffan Herrstrom to protest the "terror propaganda" against […]

Hong Kong must strive to eliminate unfair discrimination, in all its forms

In a recent column published in this paper, attention was drawn to the unfair and unpleasant discrimination exhibited in Hong Kong toward some mainland residents (Discrimination Against Mainland Chinese Must End, Sept 29). It is ironic that such unfair discrimination should be directed at members of the same ethnic group — Chinese — when discrimination […]

Make city anti-corruption capital of the whole world

There does not seem to be much publicity for the upcoming International Anti-Corruption Day. On Oct 31, 2003, the United Nations General Assembly, while adopting the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), designated Dec 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day. The purpose is to raise public awareness of the nefarious effects of corruption and of the […]

Iran condemns latest EU, UK sanctions as ‘baseless, illegal’

In this photo released on Aug 11, 2022 by the Iranian foreign ministry, ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani speaks in Tehran, Iran. (IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY VIA AP) TEHRAN / BRUSSELS – The Iranian foreign ministry on Tuesday strongly condemned the latest EU and British sanctions against Iranian individuals and organizations. Nasser Kanaani, the ministry spokesman, said […]

Türkiye to pursue Syria targets after Iraq operation on Kurdish forces

Syrian Kurds protest against Türkiye and in solidarity with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), in the Kurdish-held city of Qamishli, on Nov 13, 2022. (DELIL SOULEIMAN / AFP) ANKARA – Türkiye plans to pursue targets in northern Syria after it completes a cross-border operation against outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in Iraq, a senior official […]

Hundreds march in crisis-hit Sri Lanka protesting tax hikes, crackdowns

Policemen stand guard during an anti-government protest rally by demonstrators demanding the release of the university students' leaders and against spiralling cost of living, in Colombo on Nov 2, 2022. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP) COLOMBO – Hundreds of people marched in Sri Lanka's largest city Colombo on Wednesday protesting against higher taxes, inflation and […]

Western media turn a blind eye to Washington’s belligerence

The Western media spread unblushing falsehoods once again. Shortly before and after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, some of the leading Western editorials contained several outrageous slurs against China. For example, an editorial of The Economist recently lambasted China for being “more isolated, inward looking, … and could become even […]

Adviser: Cyberattacks launched against Iran’s infrastructure

TEHRAN – A total of 120 cyberattacks were launched against Iran's infrastructure in the past 15 days, an adviser to the head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization said on Saturday. The majority of the attacks targeted service networks in an effort to cause public dissatisfaction, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted Ali Akbar Shahverdian as […]